The paper presents methodology and results of the measurement of the research on the process of cutting a beetroot Beta vulgaris L in laboratory conditions, where values of the maximum cutting force of beetroot tissues collected from specific layers (upper layer, central layer, lower layer) were analysed. Variable parameters in the experiment were: angle of knife sharpening (2.5°; 7.5°; 12.5° and 17.5°) and velocity of its relocation (0.83 mm•s-1, 1.66 mm•s-1, 2.49 mm•s-1, 4.15 mm•-1 and 10 mm•s-1). The obtained data were subject to mathematical analysis with the use of Excel and Statistica 6.0 software. Statistical analysis of results proved significant dependence of the value of the maximum cutting force on the changes of mechanical properties of tissues in relation to the place of collecting samples, angle of knife sharpening and its relocation. The highest value of force was obtained during cutting with a knife of the sharpening angle ɸ=17.5° and the lowest during the use of a knife with ɸ=2.5°. Along with the increase of the velocity of knife relocation, the cutting force decreased. The best quality of samples was obtained with the use of the velocity which was 2.49 mm•s-1 and 4.15 mm•s-1 with knives with a cutting angle 2.5° and 7.5°.

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: Kusińska, E., Starek, A. (2014). Assessment of variability of the maximum cutting force depending on the structure of the beetroot pulp. Inzynieria Rolnicza, 1(149), 91-100.